Thanks for explaining how it can be achieved in Zotero. We did try this out, but just as you mentioned, the annotated/highlighted PDF changes the file. We liked

Thanks for explaining how it can be achieved in Zotero. We did try this out, but just as you mentioned, the annotated/highlighted PDF changes the file. We liked how Mendeley keeps that information in a separate DB and lets you make the markups right in the app, instead of having to do it yourself outside the application. It was simply more seamless for our non-tech people.